THE hot weather could not affect the enthusiasm of Shanghai's rugby players and spectators or, for that matter, the devotion of frisbee and baseball fans.

　　It was September 6, a bright Saturday with the sun blazing down, and the touch rugby teams could not wait to get onto the field.

　　Although the tournament was only touch rugby, not as gruelling a game as contact rugby, the players in action and the substitute players on the bench were all at fever pitch.

　　The tournament was being hosted by the Shanghai Football Club in Jinqiao, in Pudong District.

　　Established in September 1997, the club offers rugby (contact, touch and children's), cricket, lawn bowls, lawn tennis and also hosts social fixtures several times a year.

　　It is Shanghai's premier rugby, frisbee, baseball and cricket venue. "The ground here is the best one on the Chinese mainland," said Jin Qianfan, who is in charge of rugby. "It is a standard ground for rugby. The matches held here are quite formal and well organized."

　　Voluntary management

　　The club was established after successfully raising capital from individual and corporate shareholders to lease the ground, lay the pitch and build the clubhouse, said Scott Brown, manager of the club.

　　"To cover the rent and ongoing maintenance of the club, players of all sports are asked to join as members or pay a daily membership fee," he said.

　　According to the handbill, the membership fee is 1,500 yuan (US) a year. Alternatively, the club charges 2,100 yuan (US) for families or 100 yuan (US) for casual players. Membership applications are processed at the ground on any weekend.

　　"The club is a non-profit organization," said Jin. "All work done by us on the Management Committee is voluntary and all proceeds go towards the rent and maintenance of the ground."

　　Jin said the membership fee was not enough to cover all the club's expenses so "donations are welcome".

　　The club now has about 200 individual members and many family members.

　　As members, people can enjoy themselves each Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am onwards. There is lots of space to play in, with three immaculate playing fields. Beer, wine, softdrinks, hamburgers and hotdogs are available at low cost and drinking water is provided free of charge.

　　The clubhouse has a bar with a large TV screen, changing rooms with hot showers, and the stand for spectators is comfortable.

　　According to Brown, the general managers of Coca Cola, the ANZ Bank, Shanghai GM and other large companies are all members of the club.

　　Hairy Crabs

　　It is the home of the Steinlager Hairy Crabs rugby team, "China's most successful Club Rugby side," said Jin.

　　The Hairy Crabs is an amateur rugby team whose team members are very casual in everything except their approach to the game. "Everybody here pays his own money to play. You paid the membership fee of the club, then you can choose to be a member of the Hairy Crabs," said Brown.

　　"But you know, they often accept the best players only."

　　Brown said the reason the team was named the Hairy Crabs was to celebrate its local character, as well as being a novel name. "Shanghai is famous for its great crabs, isn't it?" he said.

　　This year there will be two rugby tournaments in spring and autumn followed by rugby training for children.

　　"I'm very disappointed at the stage of rugby development on the Chinese mainland," said Frankie Lin, who came to Shanghai from Hong Kong three months ago. "Rugby has developed very well in Hong Kong but here in Shanghai, we've fallen behind a lot.

　　"Chinese kids are lazier than foreign kids - they can't stand any hardship," said Jin. "But the foreign kids always play their hearts out."

　　Jin also said parents behaved differently as well. "Chinese parents take good care of their kids but foreign parents just let their kids do their utmost.

　　"I feel we are looked down upon in the rugby field," said Frankie. "I hope Chinese parents don't spoil their children. Let them play real rugby," he said with feeling.

　　At the other side of the ground, two Japanese children were practicing baseball in spite of the sun burning down on them.

　　"The prize for the tournament champion? Just being happy!" smiled Brown.

　　The match was going on and the players' shirts were soaked through with sweat. But everyone was smiling happily.

　　It really is the right place for the right sport - the game Westerners say is played in heaven. (By Luan Yunpeng)